§ 1. Mr. Beswickasked the Minister of Civil Aviation how many Tudor aircraft are owned by his Department; what offers have been made for these aircraft; and if he will inform the House of the terms of any sale that is effected.
§ The Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation (Mr. Alan Lennox-Boyd)My Department own 10 Tudors, plus four which are held for breaking down into spares. It would be contrary to normal contract procedure to publish details of individual offers, but I can say that offers around £10,000 apiece as they stand would be considered.
§ Mr. BeswickWhereas it might be in the national interest in certain circumstances to conclude a sale which includes financial facilities for private operators, will the Minister give an undertaking that no sale that includes an element of hidden subsidy will be concluded before the House is aware of the terms?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydIn reply to that, the offer of these Tudors is equally open to any Corporation that chooses to apply for them. The Tudors are costing from £8,000 to £10,000 a year to maintain in idleness. It would, I think, be fantastic not to take the first good offer that comes along.